Down grain saver for harvester reels



NOV. 29, 1949 BOOTH 2,489,516

DOWN GRAIN SAVER FOR HARVESTER REELS Filed Sept. 19; 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet1 .1 I gnaw/WM 22 John/ IBooflv,

J L 23 WW5 Nov. 29, 1949 J. T. BOOTH DOWN GRAIN SAVER FOR HARVESTERREELS File d Sept. 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- FIG. 2.

FIG. 5.

JOHN 7. 500771 Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE DOWNGRAIN SAVER FOR HARVESTER REELS 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to harvester reels, and more particularly toharvester reels having means to gather up grain which has fallen down aswell as the upstanding grain.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedharvester reel which is simple in construction, efficient in operationand reliable in performance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved harvesterreel which is light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, sturdyv inconstruction and which is very effective in gathering fallen grain andshort grain stalks.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claim, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

'Figure 1 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view of a harvesterreel constructed in accordance with the present invention and takensubstantially on the plane of the line I--I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section with parts broken away andtaken substantially on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of an angle adjusting member forthe cam operator device employed in the harvester reel of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded elevational detail view of the cam device andadjusting member employed in the harvester reel of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a modified form of auxiliary lath apart fromthe harvester reel.

Figure 6 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary elevation of a detail andillustrating a modified structure.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in longitudinal verticalsection of the modification of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, II designates the harvester reel bearingshaft of a conventional harvester. The harvester reel is designated atI2 and is suitably journaled on shaft I I, the reel being rotated by asuitable prime mover by conventional power transmission mechanism notshown.

The reel I2 comprises a plurality of sets of radial spoke members I3secured at their inner ends to disc members I6. Disc members I6 arefixed to shaft II for rotation therewith in any usual well known manner,not shown. The usual lath members I5 are secured to the longitudinallyaligned outer portions of spoke members I3.

The ends of shaft II outwardly of each disc I 6 are supported bystationary plates I4 fixed on suitable frame nnrtinns nni'. shmxm nf theher.

2 vester and have secured thereto semi-circular disc members I8, Figure3. The discs I8 are formed to provide arcuate bolt slots l9concentrically dis posed relative to shaft II which are adapted toreceive bolts I9 so that the disc I8 may have a range of angularadjustment around the shaft II with respect to the plate I4. The discmember I8 is formed with a semi-cylindrical collar ele ment 2!)extending radially thereof and concentrically disposed relative to theshaft II and which is provided with diametrically oppositely disposedside flanges 2I, 2 I. Opposing said collar 20 is a semi-cylindricalcollar element 22 having longitudinally slotted diametrically opposedside flanges 23, 23 which are adapted to be fastened in abuttingrelation to the underside of flanges 2i, 2i by bolts 24, 24 which engagethrough the slots 24' in the side flanges 23 so that the collar element22 is not only opposite collar element 20 but may be axially andlongitudinally adjusted with respect thereto along the shaft H. Theopposed collars 20, 22 thus provide a bearing in which the shaft I I isjournaled for rotation. The collar element 22 carries a semi-circularcam element 25 concentrically thereof and which extends radially of theshaft I I with its arcuate periphery concentric thereto. Thus, discs I8may be fixed in selected adjusted positions concentrically of shaft I Iso as to remain stationary while shaft II, discs I6 and the reel arerotating as a unit. Also, cams 25 may be adjusted along the shaftaxially thereof to and from operative positions as shown and inoperativepositions closer to the plate I8 and clear of the path of the camengaging rollers 3 I to be described later.

An auxiliary lath member 2! is hinged to each lath member I5 by hinges26 at the outer periphery of reel I2. Such auxiliary lath members 21 areprovided with inwardly and rearwardly inclined rear lever arms 28. Thedisc l6 has secured thereto longitudinally outwardly extendingprojections 30 lying in the radial planes of spokes I3, A lever member29 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the free end of each projection30. Each lever member 29 is pivoted at the outer end thereof to theinner end of a link 32 the outer end of which is pivoted to a respectivearm 28 of an auxiliary lath member 21. The inner end of the lever member29 has rotatably secured thereto a follower roller 3| which isengageable with the periphery of cam element 25. A spring 33 connectsthe inner end of each link 32 to a radial lug 34 projecting from discsl6 rearwardly adjacent to each projection 30 thereof. A stop lug 35projects Figure 6, to limit the normal retracted position of each link32 and lever 29 to substantially radial positions. As can be seen fromFigure 1, when the reel rotates it carries with it the lever 29 androller 3| whereby when such roller 3| engages the arcuate periphery ofthe stationary cam element 25, the inner end of arm 29 is deflectedrearwardly on its pivot 30 so that its outer nd swings l heinnerrend of32 forwardly and pulls therconnec'ted auxiliary lath-member 21 to anoutwardly projecting position against the tension of spring 33. When theroller 3| leavxx the arcuate periphery of the cam member, spring 33returns the linkage to its originalra'diabposition wherein auxiliarylath member 21 extends subdefined by the hinges 26.

The cams 25 are positionedqelative=toshaftI so that when the auxiliarylath membersILaremoved downwardly they are in their tangentialpositions. As the auxiliary lath members lapproach'the ,lowermost .pointof theirlcylin'drical 'pathspf travel; their'rollers3'l engage thearcuate peripheries of the.cams'.25. and the'lath.menibers *2!aregthereby extended tothesoutwardlyprofiectingpositions'to provide.ascooping action to thereby scoop ;up fallen ,grain stalks and .theshortengrain stalks which would .not be harvested byreelsof conventionalconstruction and passthe ,sameover's'icklebar 49;Figure 1. Thelath.memfil rs 21 resume their tangential ,PQs'itions at vthecompletionoftheir upwardpaths of movement'by the disengagement 'olthe-rollers'3 .l from the arourate peripheralportions of the cams 25 .andthe iblasinggaction'ofthe springs.

in Figure-6 amodified form of auxiliary lath member .fiiSOIOSGd andcomprisesa lath "bar I] having rakeiteethr48 on .its outer edge. Thisform oflath operates in'the same manner vasjthe preferred form and is,adapted to be used where thegg'rain stalks are lying on .the ground orwhen the harvester is vused to"harvest,vines.

l inthe embodiment of Figures 1;to.6,'incluslv e, I have shown anarrangement suitable for substantially'small'harvesters where the lengthof the;reel "I2 is substantially small. ZHoWever, in .jlarger harvestersor :combines it 'is not. unusual for the reel to "be provided with atleasttone intermediate series of spokes I3. In such largeiharwestersIprefer'to-provide but a single cam '25 adjacent the central series ofspokes i3 and pro- *vide auxiliary operating .means for the lateral-endso'fthe;auxiliary lath 21.

Figuresfi and 7 illustrate this modification o'f thednventionwhichcomprises a pair ,of split discs 55 having split-flanges ,or hubs 5.1connected together in any suitablemanner as .bythe'bolts158 throughtheabutting flanges thereof. A plurality of extensible couplings arejournaled in the opposed peripheral portions of .the discs 56substantially in the radial planes of the spokes l3. Each couplingcomprises a substantially small ,rod 153 which telescopes into theopposed 'free end of an enlargedhollow rod 54. The rodsare held inadjusted relation by any suitable means such as -the set screw 55. Therod 53 adjacent the associated disc 56 has a radially extending armfizanditheiodtereends oil-such linksfliz are pivoted to the levers 28 ofthe auxiliary laths 21.

vIt is apparent from Figure 7 that the axis of the connecting rods 53,54 are substantially .zziligned 'w'itnthenormal axis of the rollers 3|.

TSlEn operation when the cam 25 trips the roller stantially tangentiallyto the cylindrical suntace- .ztl stile-outer end of the lever arm 29 isthrown forwardly taking with it the lower end of the link 52. Wren-this"occurs the lever 32 moves to the brokenline position Figure 6, andcarries with it the lateral arm 50 of the arm 5| of the rod 53,

wvherehy..to.rotate the connecting rods .53, Stand .actualteihelever armY59 and "link '52 to assist ithe. actuating the auxiliary lath 21.

While I have shown and described what :are

nowJzhoughtto.berthe preferred embodiments of the.invention,'it'isto'heun'derstood that the same is .susceptible of other forms andexpressions. Consequently, I do notlimit myself 'toithe precisestructures shown and described hereinabove exceptas hereinafter claimed.

Whatlis claimed is:

.lnajharvester, includinga shaft, areel'rotatable with said shaft andincluding a'framehaving a plurality .of fixed longitudinally extendinglath 5 members secured thereto and lying along a cyjacent said shaft,follower means connected to said tauxiliary lath'members and'normallycooperating-withvsaid 'cam for-moving said auxiliary lath members tosaid extended positions during 'aselecte'd portion of each rotation ofsaid reel, means mounting'said cam-for movement axially .of saidshafttoand from an operative position in the'path of 'said follower means andan inoperative'position out of the path of said follower means-andm-eansmounting said cam for adjustlug-movement concentrically of said shaft.

JOHN T. BOOTH.

REFERENCES CITED 60 :Theiollowing references .are of record in the dleof this .patent:

"UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "2'IQ,336 Pu'lver Jan. 9, 1883895,147 Beal Aug. 4, 1908 981,319 Seibert Jan. 10, v1911 177101077Kunz... July 8, 1930

